Dog Information

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Florida Dog Laws: Important Things Local Pet Owners Should Know

Being a pet owner can be tough, as it comes with so much responsibility. This state, for instance, has a strict liability; tort on dog bites. What does that mean, and why should Floridian dog owners know about it? For those relatively new to dog ownership, laws in Florida can be complex, so here's a quick breakdown.

Florida Dog Bite Law

dog-bite.jpg The official tort on this topic is F.S. 767.04,which has a strict liability on dog bites, meaning that an owner is liable even if the owner has no warning (regardless of the former viciousness of the dog). The owner is liable for injuries when the dog bites another person in a public place or lawfully in a private place. The statute of limitations on this law is four years after the date of the dog bite. The dog owner is less likely to be liable if the bite happens on the owner private property and the owner has Bad Dog signage clearly visible on the property. There are exceptions to that rule, however. (For example, if the victim is six years old or younger that rule doesnt apply). Dogs are also not allowed to attack livestock.

 

 

Florida Dog-in-Car Law

dog_car.jpg Its a horribly cruel thing to do to an animal, and yet there no law on the books specifically criminalizing the abusive behavior of leaving a dog in a hot car. In most cases, the state broad, general animal cruelty law applies, in which negligence like this is considered a misdemeanor. There are, as of 2019, civil liability immunities for people hoping to rescue dogs from hot cars, according to F.S. 768.139, but one must take specific actions in order for that tort to apply. For instance, you must call 911 before entering the vehicle and wait with the animal (or child) until law enforcement arrives.

 

 

 

Florida Dog Leash Laws

Dog-Leash.jpeg Most leash laws in the state of Florida happen on the city or county level, as the only language on the topic on the state level has to do with dangerous dogs. To be defined as a dangerous dog (F.S. 767.11), a dog has either aggressively bitten or attacked a person, chased a person while unprovoked, or has more than once severely injured or killed a domestic  animal. Dogs that are legally defined as dangerous dogs in the state of Florida must be restrained with a muzzle or leash every time it outside of a proper enclosure.

Miami-Dade County has several ordinances regarding tethering. For instance, a dog must be six months or older, cannot be kept tethered outside during extreme heat, and cannot be tethered to other dogs.

 

Scoop the Poop Law

Dog-Poop-Leash.jpeg Please remember to clean up after your dog, it is the law

 

 

 

 

 

Florida Dog Vaccination Laws

Dog-Rabies-Vaccination-750x422.jpg According to F.S. 828.30, dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated for rabies as well as a few other core diseases. The only exceptions include those in which a licensed veteran has confirmed in writing that the vaccination would endanger the dogs health due to its age or other medical considerations. The below vaccinations are required by law. Additional vaccinations may be recommended by your vet, such as vaccinations against Lyme disease.

  • Rabies

  • Adenovirus

  • Canine distemper

  • Parvovirus

  • Leptospirosis

  • Bordetella

  • Roundworms

  • Hookworms

  • Parainfluenza

Florida Service Dog Laws

service-dog.jpg The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which applies nationally, has regulations on service dogs. Note that service dogs are different than emotional support dogs in both federal and state law. Florida law goes above and beyond the ADA in that it prohibits landlords from charging extra rent fees while accommodating service dogs. Employers who discriminate against those with service dogs may commit a second-degree misdemeanor in the state.

 

 

 

Additional Laws

Check the Miami-Dade County Code for more specific laws affecting you and your pet.

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